Talk:Cutlass

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Cutlass & Machete are the same implement in modern usage - cutlass is the English (and thus, English Colonial) word for the implement, while machete is the Spanish (and thus, American) word. Guettarda 19:12, 16 Nov 2004 (UTC)

The meaning of "machete" in English is rather narrower than in Spanish. In English "machete" strongly implies the absence of a handguard, while "cutlass" suggests a handguard, typically in the form of a knuckle bow. While it might be correct in Spanish to call a cutlass a machete, the precise meaning is better conveyed by sable de abordaje, and notably that is the word attached in the Spanish Wikipedia [[1]] to the same picture captioned "cutlass" in this article. --Pirate Dan 20:52, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cutlasses used by pirates

I would dispute the contention that the heyday of the pirates was well over before the widespread adoption of the cutlass. In the trial transcript of Stede Bonnet's pirate crews, witnesses mentioned that after the pirates boarded their vessel they "clapped their hands to their Cutlashes." I beleive there are also several references to Captain Kidd's men beating people with the flats of their cutlasses.

I will wait for a response before editing the article. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Piratedan (talk • contribs) 22:48, 2 March 2007 (UTC).

OK, not seeing any response, I'll go ahead and edit the article. --Pirate Dan 23:00, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Royal navy 1941

I'm doing a report for my school on the most recent millitary uses of various european swords. if anyone has more inforamtion on the comment regarding the cutlass used in a "boarding action" in 1941 it would be helpful to me- just send it to my talk page. thanks, Ryan shell 20:11, 9 March 2007 (UTC)